Katherine cluster close contact among prisoners being transferred to Darwin

A prisoner who is a close contact of the Katherine cluster is being transferred to Darwin despite concerns for the Covid safety of the arrangement.

A CLOSE contact of the Katherine cluster is among five prisoners being escorted to Darwin from the regional town despite it being in a lockdown – and there being serious concerns about the Covid safety of the arrangement.

The Sunday Territorian confirmed arrangements were being made on Friday to escort the prisoners to the Darwin Correctional Centre today.

One was identified as a close contact in the recent Katherine cluster and has been in proximity of the other four detainees.

A statement from the NT government said the prisoners were being moved because the DCC was the holding establishment for those “remanded and sentenced by the courts in Katherine and outlying areas”.

“Correctional Services is working very closely with NT Police and Health to ensure that all Covid-safe protocols are in place for the transfer of prisoners,” it read.

“These protocols are governed by best practice including the wearing of PPE by Correctional Services staff, a comprehensive testing regime and an isolation strategy until the individuals do not present a risk to the general prisoner population.”

United Workers Union NT branch secretary Erina Early said the arrangement was concerning.

“This is a huge risk to my members, prisoners and Territorians,” she said.

It comes after questions were raised this month about the removal of a “temporary” Covid safety measure at the entrance of the Darwin Correctional Precinct.

The boom gate, installed last year, has been removed and reinstated during lockdowns and lockouts. It controlled all entry and exit at the precinct.

Prison sources said the boom gate had proven to be a critical Covid control asset.

“Without this position we have no control measures in place to manage the risk to the facility of community transmission and to correctly identify the vaccination status of persons entering a government worksite,” one said.